Put a lid on lunchbox dramas

YOU'VE probably seen the stories doing the rounds on social media lately. Parents put in the naughty corner with an note sent home from school/daycare. What did they do? They committed the sin of giving their child cake in their lunchbox.

Children are supposed to be taught to have a healthy relationship with food, but if they are made to feel like they (and their parents) have done something wrong, and they have "bad” food in their lunch, how is that going to help?

I think it's time parents take back control over what goes in their kiddies' lunches. Our poor teachers have got more than enough to do, without having to police what children are fed. How are they supposed to know if little Billy's mother used coconut oil, beetroot and organic kale to make his chocolate brownie? I saw one mother comment on social media that she could always send in a recipe for her child's teacher so he/she would know it was made from healthy ingredients. Yes, I'm sure our overworked and overstressed teachers have time to analyse the ingredients of each student's lunch.

We are the parents. It is our responsibility to feed our children well. I believe schools should offer guidelines of what makes a healthy lunch but I think most of us these days know what we should be feeding our kids. A lunchbox full of cream buns, fun-size chocolates and packets of chips? No. Sandwiches, fruit, cheese, crackers, yogurt and maybe one little treat? It's not rocket science. Let our children eat in peace and give our teachers a break.